The database links have been corrected and now link to the correct detail. I appreciate the member who let me know about this error so I could correct it. Members may access the database at this link.
Sep 02
Oakview Interments
The database is being reconfigured due to errors. Please bear with us until complete.
Aug 23
Meeting Information and Membership Renewal
This is the time of year when we traditionally send a membership renewal mailing by USPS. Since this service is increasing more expensive the board has elected to send most renewal notices by email. You may download a membership form to mail in if you do not wish to renew online by PayPal or credit card. To view your expiration date and renew online please login using the form on the right of this page. If you don’t know your password, use the forgot password link to reset your password and login.
Please note that you will receive an email 30 days prior to your membership expiration date. This will occur automatically from the website, so if you have mailed your check please understand that we have experienced delays in USPS service and contact us at info@ocgsmi.org if you have questions regarding your membership status..
You can access the program schedule here.
Here is a communication from our President, Judy Nimer Muhn:
Members and Friends of the Oakland County Genealogical Society,
As we begin a new program year for 2021-2022, we want to thank you for staying with us through the adjustments we all made in 2020! Our membership reflected a broader representation from across the United States and Canada and we were thrilled to be able to share programming via Zoom – to keep us all focused on our research and moving forward in a positive and productive way to finding our ancestors!
We are grateful that you have kept the Oakland County Genealogical Society a part of your life and learning options, and we are very pleased to offer some great programming in this coming year. While we will initially be managing from our Zoom platform, your Board is working on having hybrid (Zoom and in-person) meetings – as we are so happy that our members are wanting to join from more distant locations AND to facilitate those for whom driving is not an easy option.
Thank you again to Vice President Derek Blunt for this years’ program – with a decidedly “Great Lakes” feel to our sessions, our presenters will give you a variety of perspectives on the Old Northwest, a variety of contexts about Michigan and Oakland County, and presentations about African-American Genealogy as well as the close relationships between Michigan and Ontario. Thank you to our speakers for their expertise and knowledge!
In our annual joint meeting with the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research on November 6 (note – Saturday!), we will be joined by John Beatty from the Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His topic: Ethnic & Religious Group Migrations to Michigan. Watch for emails, Facebook posts and our website for this.
As we move into the transition to a hybrid environment, please be sure to watch our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ocgsmi) and our website (www.ocgsmi.org) for updates and directions on how to sign up for the Zoom link. Please note that the October and November sessions as of July are planned as fully Zoom sessions, with our plan to first attempt hybrid meetings in either December or January – cross your fingers!
Again, thank you for your membership in our society and know that we welcome your comments, suggestions, and input at any time. My email is president@ocgsmi.org and I welcome your involvement!
Judy Nimer Muhn
President
Aug 11
MGC Fall Virtual Family History Seminar with Bernice Alexander Bennett
Saturday, September 18, 2021
MGC Fall Virtual Family History Seminar with Bernice Alexander Bennett
9:00 am to 5:00 pm – Virtual seminar
Award-winning author, genealogist, talk show host and storyteller, Bernice Alexander Bennett will be our speaker. Bennett is the recipient of the first Ida B. Wells Service Award from the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passages for her dedication to broadcast the stories about enslaved and indentured ancestors of African descent. Her book, “Tracing Their Steps” is the winner of the 2021 New Generation Indie Book Award and the Phillis Wheatley Award. Bennett is a nationally recognized speaker, having presented at conferences such as the National Genealogical Society, Midwest African American Genealogy Institute, RootsTech, Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society, the International Black Genealogy Summit, and more.
The cost to attend is $25, with early bird savings of $5 through midnight Labor Day, September 6.
Click here to register.
We look forward to you joining us on September 18! from the Michigan Genealogical Council Seminar Committee
https://mimgc.org
seminar@mimgc.org
Join us for these exciting topics.
9:00 – 9:15 am: Welcome and remarks (Rozlyn Kelly, MGC President, Mark Harvey, Archives of Michigan State Archivist, Tim Gleisner, Library of Michigan Special Collections Manager)
9:15 – 10:15 am: Bernice Alexander Bennett – USCT Civil War Widows Pension Records Tell the Story will discuss the anatomy of a Civil War Widows Pension file and several examples to illustrate the value of using these records.
10:30 – 11:30 am: Bernice Alexander Bennett – Black Homesteaders at the Crossroad of Freedom will answer these questions: Who were the homesteaders? What is the Homestead Act of 1862? What are the eligibility requirements? What is the application process? and What can you find in the land entry papers?
11:45 am – 12:45 pm: Tim Gleisner, Library of Michigan Special Collections Manager – What can you find with your Library of Michigan Card? Learn about resources available to Library of Michigan cardholders for family history research including the Grand Rapids Press historical archives, the Michigan Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Toronto Globe and Mail, and Michigan Sanborn maps.
12:45 – 1:15: pm Lunch Break
1:15 – 2:15 pm: Bernice Alexander Bennett – Writing and Telling Your Story. Do you have a story to tell and don’t know how to write or tell it? This session will explore how you can turn your genealogical research into a compelling and engaging family story.
2:30 – 3:30 pm: Bernice Alexander Bennett – Follow the Witnesses will show how following witnesses on documents can reveal the community history.
3:45 – 4:45 pm: Kris Rzepczynski, Senior Archivist, Archives of Michigan – Researching Your Family’s History at the Archives of Michigan. An introduction to the Archives of Michigan, this program will explore the genealogical collections available there, including original source records, published resources, and online tools at Michiganology. Also, learn about the ongoing Michigan naturalization and probate records digitization projects.
4:45 – 5:00 pm: Closing Remarks (Rozlyn Kelly)
Aug 10
Library of Michigan Open to Researchers by Appointment
Read the announcement and restrictions here:
https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,9327,7-381-93136-522515–,00.html
Happy researching!
Jul 20
Email Communication
We are transitioning to MailChimp for most email communication. You may receive renewal notifications from the website, but all other email will come from MailChimp. The email you receive from MailChimp may include meeting notices, information about the Society, or other information of interest to researchers of Oakland County ancestors.
There is an unsubscribe link in the footer of each MailChimp distribution, and you may unsubscribe at any time if you are not interested in the content described above. You will still receive renewal notices directly from the website if you unsubscribe to our MailChimp list, as long as you have an current email on file with OCGS.
Jul 20
Acorns to Oaks
Volume 43 #3 of Acorns to Oaks has been sent to the printer and will be mailed within 7 business days to those who were active members on July 19, 2021. The Quarterly is sent by Bulk Mail, so may take a week or so to reach you.
Jul 16
New Website
Welcome to our new website. Things look a bit different here; we are happy to say that our new site is mobile friendly. When our previous service was sold to new ownership, we decided to strike out on our own.
We are adding information to member records as quickly as we can, since some data did not transfer in the change over.
If you have problems, please email Pam Warren and she will help as soon as she can, probably within one day.
Jul 13
2021-22 Program Schedule
The Schedule is coming together nicely, thanks to VP Derek Blount. Watch for meeting information to be posted on the Meetings and Events page soon.
Jul 13
New Site!
Welcome to the Oakland County Genealogical Society’s new website! We are happy that OCGS has complete control of our website. Please email us if you have suggestions or comments.
